System, method and apparatus for sensor activation

ABSTRACT

A configured mode of operation of a wireless sensor node unit can selectively activate a first subset of sensor channels of data and selectively deactivate a second subset of sensor channels of data. The configured mode of operation customizes the sensor functionality in the wireless sensor node unit in support of the delivery of data streams to customers.

This application is a continuation of non-provisional application Ser.No. 15/888,068, filed Feb. 4, 2018, which is a continuation ofnon-provisional application Ser. No. 15/145,884, filed May 4, 2016 (NowU.S. Pat. No. 9,888,336), which is a continuation of non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 14/710,191, filed May 12, 2015 (Now U.S. Pat. No.9,534,930), which claims the benefit of and priority to provisionalapplication No. 61/992,307, filed May 13, 2014, and to provisionalapplication No. 62/136,959, filed Mar. 23, 2015. Each of theabove-identified applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates generally to sensor applications,including a system, method and apparatus for sensor activation.

Introduction

Sensors can be used to monitor physical or environmental conditions.Wireless sensor networks can be used to collect data from distributedsensors and to route the collected sensor data to a central location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features can be obtained, a more particular descriptionwill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be consideredlimiting of its scope, the disclosure describes and explains withadditional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless sensor networkthat can collect and distribute sensor information.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless node.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a sensor module unit.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of a housing of a wireless nodethat exposes connector interfaces.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a housing of a sensor moduleunit.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless node that isphysically attached to a plurality of sensor module units.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of a configuration of a set ofsensor channels between a wireless node and a sensor module unit.

FIG. 8 illustrates a framework of the relative activation of sensors inthe wireless sensor network.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example process of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are discussed in detail below. While specificimplementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is donefor illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant artwill recognize that other components and configurations may be usedwithout parting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Sensors provide a mechanism for discovering and analyzing the state ofphysical or environmental conditions. Wireless sensor networks providean efficient mechanism for connecting with and retrieving sensor datafrom a distributed set of sensors. The growing emphasis on the Internetof Things (IoT) has further reinforced the importance of wirelessnetworks in connecting a range of devices. Notwithstanding today'semphasis on connecting a variety of devices using wirelesscommunication, it is recognized in the present disclosure that thepenetration of wireless sensor networks into the marketplace is limiteddue to the high level of installation and maintenance costs.

By their very nature, sensors are designed to measure a particularphysical or environmental condition. Sensors therefore represent a classof application-specific devices. Every sensor network installation canbe designed with unique cost constraints, measurement objectives, siterestrictions, or other application-specific requirements that caninfluence sensor network design. These application-specific qualitieslead to significant challenges in identifying a scalable solution thatcan be applied across various industries and markets. For example, it isrecognized that a scalable solution should be flexible in accommodatingnew types of sensor applications with little redesign or redeployment ofa wireless sensor network. Such a scalable solution would significantlyreduce installation and maintenance costs as new sensors and applicationfeatures are rolled out across an already deployed sensor networkinfrastructure. It is recognized that sensor network solutions shouldenable an evolution of the deployed wireless sensor network withoutwasting previously-deployed wireless sensor network elements orrequiring significant time or expense in modifying thepreviously-deployed wireless sensor network.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless sensor networkthat can collect and distribute sensor information. The wireless sensornetwork can be configured to collect and distribute sensor informationthat is based on measurements by sensors deployed at monitored location110. Monitored location 110 can represent any area where a collection ofsensors is deployed. Monitored location 110 may or may not represent aphysical area having clearly defined boundaries. As would beappreciated, the extent of the monitoring application itself provides asense of boundary to monitored location 110. In one example, monitoredlocation 110 can represent a building such as a home, hotel, school,community building, stadium, convention center, warehouse, officebuilding, multi-dwelling unit, or other defined building structure. Inanother example, monitored location 110 can represent an area of controlsuch as a monitored area that can be fixed or movable.

Disposed within monitored location 110 is a plurality of sensors.Communication between the plurality of sensors and gateway device 120 isfacilitated by a set of wireless nodes 130-n. In general, wireless nodes130-n can be configured to form a wireless mesh network. In oneembodiment, the communication protocol between wireless nodes 130-n isbased on the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. A wireless mesh network can beformed between wireless nodes 130-n and can be used to facilitatecommunication between any wireless node 130-n and gateway device 120.

A wireless node 130-n can be configured to support one or more sensormodule units (S), each of which can be individually coupled to awireless node 130-n via a plug-and-play universal sensor interface. Theplug-and-play universal sensor interface facilitates the separation ofthe wireless node communication infrastructure from the set of one ormore sensor module units that are deployed at the location at which thesupporting wireless node 130-n is installed. This separation createssignificant flexibility in choice of sensors that may or may not bedeployed proximate to the time of installation of the supportingwireless node 130-n. As such, the plug-and-play universal sensorinterface enables a sensor network solution to respond to changes in thesensor application requirements at monitored location 110 withoutincurring significant redeployment costs.

This flexibility would not be available if sensors were integrated witha wireless node. When a wireless node is deployed with integratedsensors, the monitoring capability of the wireless node is limited tothe sensors that were pre-installed in the wireless node. Thispre-installation would fix the capability of the wireless node at thetime of deployment and would limit the wireless node to a static sensorapplication objective. Thus, if a defective sensor needs to be replaced,or if another type of sensor needs to be added to meet a dynamic sensorapplication objective, then the wireless node would need to be replacedor otherwise modified. This would impact at least part of the wirelesssensor network infrastructure, which can result in sensor networkdowntime at the monitored location. A further impact would be producedas the maintenance expense of such a replacement or modification wouldbe prohibitive.

In the present disclosure, the plug-and-play universal sensor interfaceenables the sensor module units to be deployed separately from wirelessnodes 130-n. The plug-and-play universal sensor interface allows anytype of sensor module unit to be connected to any wireless node 130-n atany time and without any reconfiguration of the supporting wirelessnetwork infrastructure. This feature allows great flexibility in thedeployment and modification of wireless sensor networks at a lower pricepoint. Additionally, the plug-and-play universal sensor interfaceenables the monitoring capabilities of the wireless sensor network toscale seamlessly with the dynamic nature of changing sensor applicationobjectives.

In one example, a wireless node 130-n can be configured to support foursensor module units. As would be appreciated, the particular number ofsensor module units that can be supported by a wireless node 130-n canvary. Sensor module units can be added onto wireless nodes 130-nsequentially at different deployment times. Thus, for example, a firstsensor module unit can be added at a time of installation of thewireless node 130-n, with one or more additional sensor module unitsadded to the same wireless node 130-n in the future as needed to addresschanging sensor application objectives.

In one embodiment, each of the sensor module units can support aplurality of individual sensors. In one example, a sensor module unitcan support a set of eight sensors. In this example, the set of eightsensors can include sensors of one or more types. For example, sensorsin a sensor module unit can include one or more of the following: atemperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an air quality sensor (e.g., CO₂sensor), a light sensor, a sound sensor, a contact sensor, a pulsesensor, a water sensor, or any other type of sensor configured tomeasure a characteristic of a part of monitored location 110. A sensormodule unit can include multiple sensors of a single type. For example,a particular configuration of a sensor module unit can include fourpulse sensors, one temperature sensor, one humidity sensor, one airquality sensor, and one light sensor. In another example, a particularconfiguration of a sensor module unit can include eight sensors of asingle type. As would be appreciated, the set of sensors included withina particular sensor module unit can be chosen to meet a given sensorapplication objective.

In the present disclosure, it is recognized that sensor module units canbe targeted or otherwise designed for a particular class of sensorapplications. For example, one sensor module unit can be designed forsensor applications targeted to school buildings, while another sensormodule unit can be designed for sensor applications targeted to officebuildings. The sensor module unit targeted for school building use caninclude a set of sensors that are popular with school building sensorapplications. For instance, the set of sensors can include pulse sensorsfor measuring utility consumption (e.g., gas, water, electricity), atemperature sensor, an air quality sensor, a humidity sensor and a lightsensor. The sensor module unit targeted for school building use can thenbe selected for installation with wireless nodes deployed in schoolbuildings. In this manner, a relatively generic sensor module unit canbe deployed across many sensor application deployments in variousschools without requiring full customization for a specific applicationat a particular school. Production costs of the sensor module units arethereby minimized without any loss of flexibility in deployingcustomized sensor module units.

The impact on economies of scale can be readily appreciated. Wirelessnode modules can be produced on a larger manufacturing scale because thegeneric wireless nodes can be applied in many types of monitoredlocations in a manner that is separate from the particular sensorobjectives at the particular monitored location. Correspondingly, alimited number of types of sensor module units can be manufactured. Forexample, a first sensor module unit type can be produced for officebuilding applications and can include a suite of sensors typically usedin office buildings. Similarly, a second sensor module unit type can beproduced for school building applications and can include a suite ofsensors typically used in school buildings.

In the deployment at a particular monitored location, the genericwireless nodes can be installed at the particular monitoring points inthe monitored location with the particular type of sensor module unitattached to the generic wireless node to meet the particular needs atthat monitoring point. Customization of this nature is far superior tothe limited options presented by integrated devices. Customization neednot result in wireless sensor network downtime and can be effectedthrough the selective coupling of particular sensor module units towireless nodes.

A further benefit of this form of customization is that it obviates theneed to re-qualify and test wireless nodes to meet a new sensorapplication. Qualification need only be performed on new sensor moduleunits since the existing wireless network infrastructure provided by thegeneric wireless nodes had previously been qualified and tested. Thisreduces the time needed to bring new sensor network features to marketin addressing new market opportunities. If, on the other hand, sensorswere integrated with the wireless nodes, then the entire device wouldneed to be re-qualified and tested before being brought to market. Asdescribed, the plug-and-play universal sensor interface enables sensornetwork application customization without increasing installation andmaintenance costs of the sensor network infrastructure.

Returning to FIG. 1, wireless node 130-1 is illustrated as supporting asingle sensor module unit (S). Wireless node 130-2, on the other hand,is illustrated as not supporting any sensor module units. This exampleillustrates a scenario where wireless node 130-2 has been specificallyinstalled as a wireless relay node in a wireless mesh network tofacilitate a connection between wireless node 130-1 and gateway 120. Asfurther illustrated, wireless node 130-3 supports four different sensormodule units (S). This example illustrates a scenario where the sensingneeds of a particular part of monitored location 110 is greater andwould therefore require additional installed sensors at the location ofwireless node 130-3. For instance, wireless node 130-3 can be installedin a hub of sensing activity at monitored location 110, while wirelessnode 130-1 or wireless node 130-N can be installed in a periphery ofsensing activity at monitored location 110. The plug-and-play universalsensor interface enables sensor module unit deployment to match sensorapplication needs in a manner that scales seamlessly with the deployedwireless network infrastructure. Deployment and maintenance costs arethereby contained.

The wireless mesh network created by wireless nodes 130-n facilitatescommunication between sensor module units and gateway 120 via thewireless network infrastructure established by wireless nodes 130-n.Gateway 120 can be installed at monitored location 110 and can beprovided with network connectivity. For example, gateway 120 can beprovided with a network connection that facilitates communication ofsensor data to host system 140. The network connection can be embodiedin various forms depending upon the particular characteristics ofmonitored location 110.

For example, where monitored location 110 is a building in a developedarea, then the network connection can be facilitated by a wired Internetconnection via an Internet service provider. In another example, wheremonitored location 110 represents a remote physical area (or movablearea) that may or may not include a building structure, then the networkconnection can be facilitated by a terrestrial or satellite basedwireless network. As would be appreciated, the principles of the presentdisclosure would not be dependent on the particular form of networkconnection supported by gateway 120 in communicating with host system140.

The network connection between gateway 120 and host system 140 enablesthe collection of sensor data by host system 140. In one embodiment,host system 140 can be located in a location remote from gateway 120. Ingeneral, host system 140 can be configured to perform a collection ofsensor data from monitored location 110, storage of sensor data indatabase 142, and a distribution of sensor data to one or moredestinations. As illustrated, host system 140 can include one or moreservers 141 that can facilitate the collection, storage and distributionprocesses.

As described, wireless nodes 130-n provide a wireless networkinfrastructure upon which sensor module units can be deployed for acustomized sensor application. FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodimentof a wireless node. As illustrated, wireless node 200 includescontroller 210 and wireless transceiver 220. In one embodiment, wirelessnode 200 can be powered via a battery source (not shown). In anotherembodiment, wireless node 200 can be powered via an external powersource available at the point of installation at the monitored location.

Wireless transceiver 220 facilitates wireless communication betweenwireless node 200 and a gateway or another wireless node that operatesas a relay between wireless node 200 and the gateway. The sensor datacommunicated by wireless transceiver 220 is collected by controller 210via one or more universal sensor interfaces 230-n. Each universal sensorinterface 230-n can support connection of wireless node 200 with aseparate sensor module unit that can be attached to wireless node 200.

Universal sensor interfaces 230-n can represent a combination ofhardware and software. The hardware portion of universal sensorinterfaces 230-n can include a wired interface that enablescommunication of different signals between wireless node 200 and aconnected sensor module unit. In one example, the wired interface can beenabled through a connector interface, which is exposed by the housingof the wireless node 200, and that is configured to receive a sensormodule unit connector via removable, pluggable insertion.

In one embodiment, the wired interface can be based on a SerialPeripheral Interface (SPI) bus. In one example, the wired interfaceenables six connections: supply, ground, data in, data out, clock, anddevice select. The device select connection can be unique to each wiredinterface and can enable controller 210 in wireless node 200 to selectthe particular sensor module unit with which wireless node 200 desiresto communicate. The software portion of the universal sensor interfaces230-n can include a protocol that allows wireless node 200 tocommunicate with a sensor module unit.

In one example protocol, controller 210 can be configured to poll thevarious universal sensor interfaces 230-n to determine whether anysensor module units are connected. As part of this protocol, controller210 can first request a sensor ID from a sensor module unit. If theresponse read is 0, then controller 210 would know that no sensor moduleunit is connected to that universal sensor interface 230-n. If, on theother hand, the response read is not 0, then controller 210 would askfor the number of data values that have to be retrieved and the numberof bits on which the data values are coded. In one example, the higherorder 8-bits of a 16-bit communication between controller 210 and asensor module unit identifies the number of data values, while the lowerorder 8-bits of the 16-bit communication identifies the number of bitsused to code each data value. Based on the number of data values to beretrieved, controller 210 would then collect that number of data values,wherein each value can represent a different sensor channel of thesensor module unit.

In one example, a wireless node can be configured for coupling to fourdifferent sensor module units. If each of the sensor module units caninclude up to eight sensors, then the wireless node can be configured tocommunicate 32 sensor channels of data to the gateway via wirelesstransceiver 220.

In the illustration of FIG. 2, wireless node 200 also includes one ormore sensors 240-n. In one example, sensors 240-n can be containedwithin or otherwise supported by the housing of wireless node 200. Invarious scenarios, the one or more sensors 240-n can facilitatemonitoring at that part of the monitored location, including the healthand/or status of wireless node 200. In one example configuration,sensors 240-n can include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, avoltage sensor, a link quality sensor, or any other sensor that can beused to facilitate the sensing needs of wireless node 200.

As noted, wireless nodes can be designed as a generic communication nodeupon which customized sensing functionality can be added through theconnection of particular sensor module units. In this framework, thewireless nodes can be constructed with base communication functionalitythat can operate independently of particular sensors. As such, thewireless nodes can provide a relatively stable wireless networkinfrastructure that can support multiple generations of sensor moduleunits. As would be appreciated, the requirements of the sensor moduleunits would be dependent on the particular sensing application. Forexample, a first sensor module unit can be designed with a firstgeneration sensor having a first degree of accuracy, reliability, orother sensor characteristic, while a second sensor module unit can bedesigned with a second generation sensor of the same type having asecond degree of accuracy, reliability, or other sensor characteristic.As this example illustrates, different generations of sensor moduleunits can be attached to the same wireless node using the plug-and-playuniversal sensor interface. The original investment in the wireless nodewould not be lost should the second sensor module unit replace theoriginally-installed first sensor module unit. A low-cost evolutionarypath of the wireless sensor network would therefore be enabled thatcould scale seamlessly with a customer's needs, sensor technology, orother factor that implicates a sensor module unit modification.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a sensor module unitdesigned for attachment to a wireless node. As illustrated, sensormodule unit 300 includes controller 310 that communicates over auniversal sensor interface with the wireless node. In one embodiment,sensor module unit 300 supports a connector 320 configured forpluggable, removable insertion into a connector interface exposed by thewireless node. In another embodiment, the sensor module unit can becoupled to the connector interface exposed by the wireless node via aconnector attached to a cable.

Sensor module unit 300 can include a plurality of sensors 330-n. In oneexample, sensor module unit 300 includes up to eight sensors of one ormore types. In the present disclosure, it is recognized that a sensormodule unit can be pre-populated with a suite of sensors targeted to aparticular class of sensor applications. In this framework, a firstsuite of sensors can be used in a first sensor module unit targeted to afirst sensor application (e.g., school buildings), while a second suiteof sensors can be used in a second sensor module unit targeted to asecond sensor application (e.g., office buildings) different from thefirst sensor application. Here, the underlying wireless networkinfrastructure can remain the same while particular sensor module unitsare chosen for coupling to one or more wireless nodes to facilitate aparticular sensor application at a monitored location.

The plug-and-play nature of the connection of sensor module units tosupporting wireless nodes facilitates a modular framework ofinstallation of a wireless sensor network. FIG. 4 illustrates an exampleembodiment of a housing of a wireless node that exposes a plurality ofconnector interfaces to produce the modular framework. As illustrated,wireless node 400 can have a housing configured to expose a plurality ofconnector interfaces 410. Each of the plurality of connector interfaces410 can support the physical attachment of a single sensor module unit.In the example illustration, each side of the housing of wireless node400 exposes a single connector interface 410. In the present disclosure,it is recognized that the housing of the wireless node can besubstantially larger than the housing of the sensor module unit. Thiscan result, for example, because the wireless node can be designed withadditional components such as an internal power source (e.g., battery)that can involve additional volume requirements as compared to thesensor module units. It is therefore recognized that one embodiment of awireless node can have multiple sensor module units physically attachedto a single side of the wireless node.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a housing of a sensor moduleunit that enables the modular framework. As illustrated, sensor moduleunit 500 supports a connector 510 that can be configured for pluggable,removable insertion into a corresponding connector interface 410 exposedby the housing of wireless node 400. The connection of sensor moduleunit 500 to wireless node 400 via the insertion of connector 510 intoconnector interface 410 produces a true plug-and-play framework ofwireless sensor network deployment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless node that isphysically attached to a plurality of sensor module units via universalsensor interfaces. As illustrated, wireless node 600 is attached tosensor module unit 620-1, sensor module unit 620-2, sensor module unit620-3, and sensor module unit 620-4 via four connector interfacesexposed by the housing of wireless node 600. The attachment of sensormodule unit 620-1 to wireless node 600 enables communication of sensordata between controller 621-1 and controller 610. The attachment ofsensor module unit 620-2 to wireless node 600 enables communication ofsensor data between controller 621-2 and controller 610. The attachmentof sensor module unit 620-3 to wireless node 600 enables communicationof sensor data between controller 621-3 and controller 610. Finally, theattachment of sensor module unit 620-4 to wireless node 600 enablescommunication of sensor data between controller 621-4 and controller610. Each of sensor module units 620-1 to 620-4 can be coupled towireless node 600 via a separate universal sensor interface having theconnectivity characteristics described above.

Controller 610 in wireless node 600 can communicate with each of sensormodule units 620-1 to 620-4 to retrieve sensor data generated by one ormore sensors on the respective sensor module units 620-1 to 620-4. Inone embodiment, the sensor channels of data that are communicated fromsensor module unit 620-n to wireless node 600 are configurable. Asnoted, communication between controller 610 and the sensor module units620-1 to 620-4 can be based on a protocol that enables identification ofthe number of data values that are transmitted from each of sensormodule units 620-1 to 620-4 to controller 610.

In one embodiment, a sensor module unit can be configured to transmitdata from only a subset of the sensors on the sensor module unit. Toillustrate this embodiment, consider again the example of a sensormodule unit targeted for school building use. In this example, thesensor module unit can include a standard suite of eight sensors,including four pulse sensors for measuring utility consumption (e.g.,gas, water, electricity), a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, ahumidity sensor and a light sensor. Individual sensors in this standardsuite of sensors can be activated selectively such that only a subset ofthe sensor channels of data is forwarded from the sensor module unit tothe wireless node.

Here, it is recognized that the selective transmission of sensorchannels of data can be used to support efficient wireless bandwidth useor reduced power consumption within the wireless sensor network at themonitored location. Moreover, the selective transmission of sensorchannels of data can support a billing model where customers pay persensor channel stream of data that is exposed by the host system to thecustomer. Additionally, customization of a sensor module unit afterinstallation enables remote customization, which thereby lowers the costof installation and maintenance incurred by personnel responsible forconfiguring the wireless sensor network at the monitored location. Aswould be appreciated, this aspect of configuration can be designed toreduce the amount of pre-installation customization required in settingup sensor module unit 620-n to operate with wireless node 600 at themonitored location.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of the configuration of a setof sensor channels between a wireless node and a sensor module unit. Asillustrated, wireless node 700 includes controller 710, while sensormodule unit 720 includes controller 721. Controller 710 in wireless node700 and controller 721 in sensor module unit 720 are configured tocommunicate using a universal sensor interface such as that describedabove.

In this example, assume that sensor module unit 720 includes eightsensors 722-1 to 722-8 (e.g., four pulse sensors for measuring utilityconsumption, one temperature sensor, one air quality sensor, onehumidity sensor and one light sensor), which can represent a standardsuite of sensors targeted for school building use. After sensor moduleunit 720 has been attached to wireless node 700 via a universal sensorinterface, channels of data associated with a first subset of the suiteof eight sensors 722-1 to 722-8 can be activated, while channels of dataassociated with a second subset of the suite of eight sensors 722-1 to722-8 can be deactivated.

For example, assume that sensors 722-1 to 722-4 are pulse sensors,sensor 722-5 is a temperature sensor, sensor 722-6 is an air qualitysensor, sensor 722-7 is a humidity sensor, and sensor 722-8 is a lightsensor. As illustrated, sensor module unit 720 can be configured suchthat channels of data associated with a first subset of sensors,including pulse sensor 722-1, temperature sensor 722-5 and humiditysensor 722-7 are activated. Correspondingly, sensor module unit 720 canbe configured such that channels of data associated with a second subsetof sensors, including pulse sensors 722-2 to 722-4, air quality sensor722-6 and light sensor 722-8 are deactivated. This example can representa scenario where the part of the monitored location at which wirelessnode 700 is installed has only one measurable utility consumption (e.g.,water) that requires monitoring along with a need for temperature andhumidity sensor readings.

Since channels of data associated with pulse sensors 722-2 to 722-4, airquality sensor 722-6 and light sensor 722-8 have been deactivated,controller 721 would report to controller 710 that controller 721 hasonly three data values for retrieval. These three data values arerepresented by the sensor channels 730-1, 730-4 and 730-7 that arepassed between controller 721 in sensor module unit 720 to controller710 in wireless node 700 over the universal sensor interface. As thisexample illustrates, the configuration of the activated/deactivatedsensor channels of data enables customization to meet the particularneeds of a particular part of a monitored location.

As noted, the wireless node can be coupled to a plurality of sensormodule units. Different subsets of sensor channels of data in eachsensor module unit can be activated/deactivated as needed. Incombination, a customized set of sensor channels of data across theplurality of sensor module units can be activated/deactivated as needed.

Here, it should be noted that the relative activation of sensor channelsof data in the wireless sensor network can be accomplished in a varietyof ways. FIG. 8 illustrates a framework of the relative activation ofsensor channels of data in the wireless sensor network. In thisillustration, wireless sensor node unit 800 can represent a combinationof a sensor module unit and a wireless node. In a manner similar to FIG.7, example wireless sensor node unit 800 is illustrated as containingeight sensors 822-1 to 822-8. In a configured mode of operation ofwireless sensor node unit 800, channels of data associated with a firstsubset of sensors is activated and channels of data associated with asecond subset of sensors is deactivated or managed in a manner differentfrom the channels of data associated with the first subset of sensors.The first subset of sensors, which includes sensor 822-1, sensor 822-5and sensor 822-7, produces activated sensor data 821. Activated sensordata 821 is transmitted to a gateway via a wireless transceiver.

The selective transmission of activated sensor data 821 to a gatewaydevice is characteristic of the configured mode of operation of wirelesssensor node unit 800. The configured mode of operation can be effectedin a number of different ways.

In one embodiment, the configured mode of operation can be effected suchthat the second subset of sensors do not perform any sensormeasurements. In this embodiment, one or more components associated withthe second subset of sensors can enter an unpowered or other energysaving state such that power consumption is minimized. In general,maximizing power savings by powering down any unneeded component wouldmaximize the lifetime of internal powering solutions (e.g., batterypower). This extended lifetime would lower the maintenance costs of thewireless sensor network in delaying action by a service technician(e.g., replacing an internal battery).

In another embodiment, the configured mode of operation can be effectedsuch that a controller in the sensor module unit is prevented fromcollecting or otherwise retrieving data from the second subset ofsensors. In one example, one or more of the second subset of sensors canremain powered, but the controller in the sensor module unit does notcollect or otherwise retrieve data from the second subset of sensors. Inone scenario, the interface between the controller and a sensor in thesecond subset of sensors can be deactivated. FIG. 7 provides anillustration of this scenario, where the interfaces between controller721 and sensor 722-2, sensor 722-3, sensor 722-4, sensor 722-6 andsensor 722-8 are deactivated.

In another embodiment, the configured mode of operation can be effectedsuch that a controller in the sensor module unit has obtained sensordata from the second subset of sensors, but does not forward theobtained sensor data to the wireless node via the wired interface. Inone example, the second subset of sensors can continue to take sensormeasurements and forward those sensor measurements to the controller inthe sensor module unit. The controller can then be configured to forwardonly the sensor measurements from the first subset of activated sensorsto the wireless node.

In yet another embodiment, the configured mode of operation can beeffected such that the controller in the wireless node has obtainedsensor data from the second subset of sensors, but does not forward theobtained sensor data to the gateway via the wireless transceiver. In oneexample, the sensor module unit can continue to take sensor measurementsand forward those sensor measurements to the controller in the wirelessnode. The controller in the wireless node can then be configured toforward only the sensor measurements from the first subset of activatedsensors to the gateway. This embodiment is useful where wirelessbandwidth in the wireless sensor network is of concern. Effectively, thecontroller in the wireless node can be configured to filter the sensorchannels of data that are transmitted to the gateway.

As has been illustrated, the configured mode of operation of thewireless sensor node unit can limit the transmission of sensor data tothe gateway in a variety of ways. In various examples, the limitationeffected by the configured mode of operation can influence the operationof the sensors, the operation of the interface between the sensor andthe controller in the sensor module unit, the operation of thecontroller in the sensor module unit, the operation of the universalsensor interface, the operation of the controller in the wireless node,the operation of the wireless transceiver, or the operation of any othercomponent in the sensor data path. The particular mechanism used by theconfigured mode of operation would be implementation dependent. Ingeneral, the configured mode of operation can be designed to limit thecollection and/or forwarding of data in the data path originating at thesecond subset of sensors.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example process of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated, the process begins at step 902 where asensor module unit is connected to a wireless node. As has beendescribed, the selection of a particular sensor module unit for couplingto a wireless node can represent a form of customization of theresulting wireless sensor node unit. Here, the choice of sensor moduleunit can provide a measure of customization as a particular suite ofsensors is chosen to operate with a wireless node. Further customizationof the wireless sensor node unit is possible.

At step 904, a configured operating mode is established for the wirelesssensor node unit. In one embodiment, the configured operating mode isestablished based on a configuration command that is made available tothe wireless sensor node unit. In one example, the configuration commandcan represent a hardware command based on one or more input pincombinations. For instance, the setting of one or more input pins can beused to identify a subset of the plurality of sensor channels of datathat should be activated. As would be appreciated, the one or more inputpins can be set by any entity responsible for configuring the operationof the wireless sensor node unit prior to functioning in the wirelesssensor network. In another example, a configurable PROM memory can beinstalled that can include instructions regarding a subset of theplurality of sensor channels of data that should be activated. Forinstance, an installer can insert a PROM that identifies a particularconfigured operating mode for the wireless sensor node unit in aparticular application context. In yet another example, theconfiguration command can be received from a device separate from thewireless sensor node unit. In one scenario, the configuration commandcan originate at a remote location using a configuration station (e.g.,personal computer, tablet, mobile phone, or other computing device) thatidentifies the particular configured operating mode for the wirelesssensor node unit. The configuration command can then be transmitted fromthe remote location to the wireless sensor node unit via the gatewaydevice at the monitored location.

As these examples illustrate, various forms of configuration commandscan be used to establish a configured operating mode for the wirelesssensor node unit. Once the configured operating mode is established,activated sensor channels of data based on measurements of one or moresensors can be transmitted from the wireless sensor node unit to thehost system at step 906.

As has been described, different suites of sensors can be defined suchthat each individual suite of sensors can be targeted for a particularsensor application. Customization of sensors at a particular part of amonitored location can then represent an installation of a particularsensor module unit having a particular suite of sensors followed by aselective activation of individual sensor channels of data to suit theparticular sensor application needs at that part of the monitoredlocation.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can provide a machineand/or computer readable storage and/or medium, having stored thereon, amachine code and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the steps as described herein.

Those of skill in the relevant art would appreciate that the variousillustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, and methodsdescribed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computersoftware, or combinations of both. To illustrate this interchangeabilityof hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules,elements, components, methods, and algorithms have been described abovegenerally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Thoseof skill in the relevant art can implement the described functionalityin varying ways for each particular application. Various components andblocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order,or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scopeof the subject technology.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparentto those skilled in the relevant art by a review of the precedingdetailed disclosure. Although a number of salient features of thepresent disclosure have been described above, the principles in thepresent disclosure are capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed and carried out in various ways that would be apparent to oneof skill in the relevant art after reading the present disclosure,therefore the above disclosure should not be considered to be exclusiveof these other embodiments. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless device, comprising: a wirelesstransceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a gateway devicehaving a wide area network connection to a host system including one ormore servers; a sensor module supporting a plurality of sensors, and acontroller that configures, based on one or more sensor channelactivation instructions received via the wireless transceiver, thewireless device to transition from a first mode of operation, wheresensor data collected from the plurality of sensors is transmitted tothe host system via the wireless transceiver, to a second mode ofoperation where the controller collects sensor data from the pluralityof sensors, but prevents a transmission of at least part of thecollected sensor data via the wireless transceiver for at least a periodof time.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wirelesstransceiver is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol.
 3. The wirelessdevice of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes anenvironmental sensor.
 4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of sensors includes an indoor air quality sensor.
 5. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes autility consumption sensor.
 6. The wireless device of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of sensors includes multiple sensors of the same type. 7.The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensorsincludes multiple sensors of a different type.
 8. A wireless device,comprising: a sensor module subsystem including a plurality of sensorsand a first controller; and a wireless communication subsystem includinga wireless transceiver and a second controller, the wirelesscommunication subsystem further including a wired communicationinterface that enables the second controller to communicate with thefirst controller in the sensor module subsystem, the wirelesscommunication subsystem receiving one or more activation instructionsvia the wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless device transitions,in response to the received one or more activation instructions, from afirst mode of operation, where sensor data collected from the pluralityof sensors is transmitted via the wireless transceiver, to a second modeof operation where at least part of sensor data collected from theplurality of sensors is prevented from transmission via the wirelesstransceiver for at least a period of time.
 9. The wireless device ofclaim 8, wherein the wireless transceiver is based on the IEEE 802.15.4protocol.
 10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the plurality ofsensors includes an environmental sensor.
 11. The wireless device ofclaim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an indoor air qualitysensor.
 12. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the plurality ofsensors includes a utility consumption sensor.
 13. The wireless deviceof claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors includes multiple sensorsof the same type.
 14. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein theplurality of sensors includes multiple sensors of a different type. 15.The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wireless transceiver isbased on the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol.
 16. The wireless device of claim 8,wherein the wired communication interface is a serial communicationinterface.
 17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the serialcommunication interface includes a first connection for clock signalingand a second connection for data signaling.
 18. A method, comprising:transmitting, by a wireless transceiver in a wireless communicationsubsystem of a wireless device, sensor data collected from a pluralityof sensors in a sensor module subsystem of the wireless device, a firstcontroller in the wireless communication subsystem communicating with asecond controller in the sensor module subsystem via a wiredcommunication interface; receiving, by the wireless transceiver, one ormore sensor activation instructions; and transitioning the wirelessdevice into a new mode of operation in response to the received one ormore sensor activation instructions, wherein during the new mode ofoperation, at least part of sensor data collected from the plurality ofsensors is prevented from transmission via the wireless transceiver forat least a period of time.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wiredcommunication interface is a serial communication interface.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the serial communication interface includesa first connection for clock signaling and a second connection for datasignaling.